In the market for a new laptop? Chances are you’re feeling a little overwhelmed by all the choices available. Fortunately, we’ve read the reviews and rounded up the best laptops for teachers, in all price ranges and sizes. We’ve included links to teacher discounts, along with reviews from trusted sites that provide lots of details for each choice, to help make the whole process easier.
How do teachers choose a laptop?
There’s a lot to consider, including screen size, port and storage options, and processor choices. You’ll probably want to prioritize battery life, connectivity options, and price, but that will vary based on your needs. If you’re buying a Windows machine, make sure it includes the latest software, Windows 11 (or a free upgrade if Windows 10 is preinstalled). For a complete guide to choosing the best laptop for your situation, check out this detailed article from Wired.
Teacher discounts also can be a factor in your choice. Many brands offer substantial discounts for teachers, and we’ve included those here along with our recommendations. If you’re considering a laptop from another maker or a specific store, be sure to check to see if they offer any educator discounts. Also, take a look at our scoop on 7 Great Laptop Discounts for Teachers.
(Just a heads up, WeAreTeachers may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. We only recommend items our team loves!)
Best Laptops for Teachers
Apple MacBook Pro
Apple is the obvious choice for many teachers since it’s also the choice for many schools. MacBook Pro is the company’s high-end laptop, with a price to match. It has some cool features like the backlit Magic Keyboard, which boasts a Touch Bar at the top with shortcuts for tools that change based on what you’re working on. For the price, though, you might expect it to include a touch screen, which it does not.
Battery life is outstanding, up to 20 hours depending on use. Customizable options include screen size (13, 14, or 16 inches) and storage (from 256GB to 2TB SSD). If you’re willing to make the investment, the MacBook Pro will definitely meet your teacher needs. Need a more affordable option? Take a look at the Apple MacBook Air.
Review: The 2023 MacBook Pro Makes Our Favorite Premium Laptop Even Better (CNN Underscored)
Teacher discount: Shop through the Apple Education Store for exclusive discounts. Remember to take advantage of Apple’s trade-in program if you have an older MacBook device you’re looking to replace.
Lenovo Yoga 2-in-1
Lenovo models get a lot of love among WeAreTeacher HELPLINE chatters. The Yoga 2-in-1 is one of the best convertible laptops for teachers out there, as educator Dedra E. can attest: “I recently bought a Lenovo Yoga 2-in-1 15-inch and I love, love, love it! It’s light and the battery lasts about 10-12 hours on one charge. And I spent less than $800. Highly recommend.”
Yoga 2-in-1 laptops come in a variety of screen sizes and processor types. The built-in webcam has a privacy shutter, and battery life is great at up to 13 hours. All in all, this is one of our favorite options for a laptop/tablet combo for teachers.
Review: Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Laptop (Wired)
Teacher discount: Sign up with ID.me to confirm your eligibility to save 10% with Lenovo’s Student & Teacher discounts.
Dell XPS 13
Reviewers regularly recommend the Dell XPS 13 as one of the top laptops on the market. It’s thin and light, with decent battery life that will get you through a workday. The backlit keyboard and display are both top-notch, though this machine could use a few more ports. It comes in some truly beautiful colors too.
Review: The Dell XPS 13 2022 Makes the Best Windows Laptop Look Even More Stunning (CNN Underscored)
Teacher discount: Dell offers an Education Discount program with exclusive deals, up to 3% back in rewards, and premium support.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4
Microsoft’s Surface line combines the full features of a laptop with the convenience of touch screens. Here’s what teacher Melissa R. has to say: “I have a Surface. I love it. It can function as a tablet but if you add a wireless keyboard, it’s just like a laptop. Very functional. Add a pen and you have writing/drawing capabilities (this has been very useful in Zoom).”
Expect battery life up to 16 to 19 hours with the newest 2-in-1 models. The Surface Laptop 4 is available with a 13.5- or 15-inch screen, both with slim lines and lightweight builds. Though the Surface Laptop 5 is now available, a lot of reviewers note there’s little meaningful improvement over the 4, and you’re more likely to get good deals on the slightly older model. If you’re looking for something smaller (and even more economical), the Surface Laptop Go is another good choice to consider.
Review: The Surface Lap 4’s All-Around Excellency and Charm Goes More than Surface-Deep (USA Today)
Teacher discount: Microsoft offers discounts and special deals in their Education Store.
Samsung Galaxy Book2 360
Convertible models are some of the best laptops for teachers, since you get all the functionality of a laptop combined with the portability of a tablet. The new Galaxy Book2 360 has a beautiful display and a high-quality webcam to make online meetings or teaching sessions easier to see. The touch screen makes it easy to use while you’re teaching, and it promises up to 21 hours of battery life.
Review: Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 (Wired)
Teacher discount: Samsung offers a 10% education discount when you buy directly from their site.
HP Spectre x360
If you like the idea of a laptop that converts to a tablet, this HP model is definitely worth a look. Reviewers love the bright touch screen with its true-to-life colors. Up to 16 hours of battery life should be more than enough to get you through a school day, but if you run low, the fast battery charge gives you as much as 50% battery life in about 45 minutes. The Spectre x360 line comes in several screen sizes and colors, and The Verge called it one of the best laptops of 2023.
Review: HP Spectre x360 14 (PC Mag)
Teacher discount: Register to get exclusive teacher discounts in the HP Education Store.
Asus Chromebook Flip CX5
Most people think of Chromebooks just for students, but these laptops are great for teachers too. In fact, there are some surprisingly sophisticated models available today. If you’re looking for a laptop that’s just for work, or if you’re not super tech-savvy, this Asus model might be a good choice for you. Like the Lenovo Yoga, this is a 2-in-1 that functions both as a tablet and a laptop with a full keyboard. You can get a full day’s use on a single battery charge, and this machine is made to stand up to daily wear and tear. (See more of our favorite Chromebooks for the classroom here.)
Review: Asus Chromebook Flip CX5: The 15-inch Chromebook to Beat (The Verge)
Teacher discount: Save up to 20% with Asus for Education pricing.
LG Gram 17″
Most laptops tend to fall in the 13- to 15-inch screen range, but 17-inch options are available, and we wanted to include a couple of them on our list of the best laptops for teachers. A supersized screen is easier to read from farther away in the classroom, and it’s nice to have during online teaching or meetings.
LG’s 17-inch model is a high-end pick, but the beautiful screen display and lightweight design make it very tempting. This big laptop weighs less than 3 pounds, so it’s perfectly portable. It’s large enough to include a wide variety of ports (including HDMI) and card slots and promises fantastic battery life (up to 19 hours). The bigger key cap and touch pad size make it easier to use too. The only real feature missing here is a touch screen.
Review: LG Gram 17 Pro (PC Mag)
Teacher discount: LG doesn’t currently offer teacher discounts.
Acer Aspire 5
Looking for a 17-inch laptop at a more affordable price? Turn to this Acer model. The fast processor is almost as good as the LG Gram’s for a substantially lower cost. The built-in webcam is 1080HD, eliminating the need for an external cam in most cases. The battery run time is about 8 hours, which isn’t outstanding but certainly good enough to get you through most days. It’s a solid option when you want a big screen without a big dent in your wallet.
Review: Acer Aspire 5: An Affordable Laptop That’s Enjoyable to Use (PCWorld)
Teacher discount: Acer doesn’t currently offer teacher discounts.
Acer Swift 3
Acer is known for basic, reliable computers without fancy extras. This model has all the standard features you’re looking for and a few nice touches, like an HDMI port and a super-lightweight aluminum body. The battery life varied in reviewer tests, averaging out at around 10 hours.
For the price, the high performance of this sleek laptop makes it a perfectly good choice for teachers. Choose between 13.5″/3:2 or 14″/16:9 ratio screen and a couple of processor types.
Review: Acer Swift 3 OLED Review (PC Mag)
Teacher discount: Acer doesn’t currently offer teacher discounts.
